Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor - by Sylvia Ann Hewlett (Paperback)

About the Book

You need more than a mentor
Traditional pathways to career progression have all but diminished. Mentors used to be the answer but in today's world, research shows that they are not enough to help you advance.
Sylvia Ann Hewlett--economist, prolific author, and originator of such prominent ideas as off-ramping and on-ramping--shows why "sponsorship" is the new route to success. What makes a sponsor different from a mentor is critical in terms of getting you into the role you covet and deserve.
A sponsor serves as your advocate--not just doling out advice but also offering the powerful backing inside the organization to get you where you want to go. From making important introductions to senior leaders to expanding the perception of what you can offer the organization, sponsors are your personal brand advocates in the workplace and in your industry at large. They inspire, propel, and protect--to help "you" progress.
Combining real examples with practical advice, "Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor" shows how to build this important professional relationship, position yourself for leadership, and effectively work with your sponsor to achieve career success.

Book Synopsis

Who's pulling for you? Who's got your back? Who's putting your hat in the ring? Odds are this person is not a mentor but a sponsor. Mentors can build your self-esteem and provide a sounding board--but they're not your ticket to the top.

If you're interested in fast-tracking your career, what you need is a sponsor--a senior-level champion who believes in your potential and is willing to advocate for you as you pursue that next raise or promotion.

In this powerful yet practical book, economist and thought leader Sylvia Ann Hewlett--author of ten critically acclaimed books, including the groundbreaking Off-Ramps and On-Ramps--shows why sponsors are your proven link to success. Mixing solid data with vivid real-life narratives, Hewlett reveals the "two-way street" that makes sponsorship such a strong and mutually beneficial alliance. The seven-step map at the heart of this book allows you to chart your course toward your greatest goals.

Whether you're looking to lead a company or drive a community campaign, Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor will help you forge the relationships that truly have the power to deliver you to your destination.

Review Quotes

"Hewlett's book is full of smart advice, backed up by data, about the impact that a senior-level leader who acts as an advocate can have on others." -- Washington Post

"Over the years, I've certainly had mentors who were generous with their time and kept plentiful boxes of tissues in their offices. I've had supporters and cheerleaders. And I'm grateful for all those who've given me opportunities. But it wasn't until I read about Sylvia Ann Hewlett's new research in her book, Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor, that I understood what I had been yearning for all those years was an advocate." -- Washington Post

"This is an easy-to-read, powerfully written book. It has lots of potent examples, and clear advice on the steps to developing sponsorship." -- Globe & Mail

"This is a must-read book for anyone looking for substantive...advice on career advancement." -- Forbes

"Her research, presented, compellingly in her latest book, Forget a Mentor; Find a Sponsor (2013: Harvard Business Review Press)... is not only enlightening, but also practical." -- The Huffington Post

"Hewett, an economist...shows why sponsors, not mentors, are the proven ticket to the top and why women and minorities need them most." -- Irish Times

"an eye-opener for ambitious professionals" -- Chicago Tribune

ADVANCE PRAISE for Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor:

Anne-Marie Slaughter, author, "Why Women Still Can't Have It All"--
"High-potential women need sponsors who will not only provide advice but also actively create opportunities to shine and advance. Hard work and merit are simply not enough."

Cornel West, Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice, Union Theological Seminary--
"A powerful and urgent book. Sylvia Ann Hewlett shows how women and people of color can win sponsors and take their place at decision-making tables."

About the Author

Sylvia Ann Hewlett is the founding president of the Center for Talent Innovation, a nonprofit think tank where she chairs a task force of 75 global companies focused on fully realizing the new streams of high echelon labor in the global marketplace. She is currently ranked #11 on the Thinkers50 list of the world's most influential business thinkers.